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The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii among 500 cattle ( Bos indicus ) and 500 buffaloes ( Bubalus bubalis ) using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) technique. Blood samples from were collected from water buffalo and cattle in 10 municipalities in the northern region of Brazil. The frequency of cattle and water buffaloes seropositive for Neospora caninum in Pará state, Brazil, was 55% and 44%, respectively, and the frequency of cattle and water buffaloes seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii was 52% and 39%, respectively. Seropositivity for both N. caninum and T. gondii was detected in 10.6% of the cattle samples and 14.8% of the buffalo samples. The frequency of cattle positive for N. caninum and T. gondii was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of buffalo in two and three provinces, respectively. Buffaloes had a lower seroprevalence for N. caninum or T. gondii in all of the provinces studied. These results suggest that both species, when exposed to the same risks for N. caninum and T. gondii infection, have a high serological prevalence. Cattle showed a higher probability of being seropositive when exposed to the same risks for N. caninum and T. gondii . Our study, which included an extensive number of blood samples, provides important epidemiological information pertinent to buffalo production in tropical countries that can be used as a basis for disease-management practices in Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria of the genus Borrelia are described as pathogenic agents of several human and animal diseases. An infection nowadays is usually detected via determination of circulating antibodies against Borreliaspecific antigens in body fluids. Thus, the aim of this study was to detect circulating antibodies against Borrelia sp. by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in cattle. Seven hundred twenty serum samples from 20 female bovines living in tick-infested areas were collected during three years. Statistical analyses were done by qui-square or Fischer's exact tests, with a confidence level of 95%. For homologous antibodies response to Borrelia sp., the iELISA test showed 93.33% sensitivity and 86.66% specificity. The prevalence of antibodies against Borrelia sp. were 15%, 23.8%, 48.6% and 65.8% at birth, first, second and third year, respectively. The rate of animal showing antibodies to Borrelia sp. indicated the presence of the tickborne spirochaetal agent in the cattle population in the studied region. Therefore, an ELISA could be used to confirm the exposure of cattle to Borrelia sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaplasma marginale is the most prevalent pathogen transmitted by ticks in cattle in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. However, the tick species involved in the transmission of A. marginale in buffaloes in Brazil have not been identified. The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of A. marginale in ticks parasitizing water buffaloes. A total of 200 samples of Rhipicephalus microplus , Dermacentor nitens , Amblyomma cajennense , and Amblyomma maculatum were collected and tested by conventional and quantitative PCR for the presence of the msp1a and msp5 genes. In the present study, 35 ticks (17.5%) were positive for A. marginale DNA by qPCR analysis. The positive ticks belonged to four different species: R. microplus (22.2%), A. cajennense (13.8%), A. maculatum (16.0%), and D. nitens (10.0%). Individuals of the three developmental stages (larvae, nymphs, and adults) of R. microplus and A. cajennense were found to be positive for A. marginale , only nymphs and adults of A. maculatum were found to be positive, and finally, only adults of D. nitens were positive for A. marginale . Our results suggest that R. microplus , A. cajennense , A. maculatum , and D. nitens ticks may be involved in the transmission of A. marginale in buffaloes. However, while A. marginale PCR positive ticks were recorded, this does not indicate vector competence; only that the ticks may contain a blood meal from an infected host. Additionally, the results show that the strains of A. marginale from buffaloes and cattle are phylogenetically related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sera samples were collected from 330 water buffaloes on Marajó Island, state of Pará, Brazil, to assess the presence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi by indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Approximately 45% of the animals had antibodies against B. burgdoferi. The prevalence of seropositive buffaloes, 72% (85/118), was statistically higher in the city of Soure than in the other municipalities tested. Murrah breed animals were significantly more seropositive (Prevalence Ratio (PR) = 1.84, p = 0.000) than those of the Mediterranean breed. Among the animals diagnosed positive for tuberculosis, 33% (4/12), were also seropositive for B. burgdoferi. Animals positive for tuberculosis had a significantly lower level of B. burgdorferi seropositivity (PR = 1.36, p = 0.0017) than negative animals. The study showed that there was an agent immunologically close to B. burgdorferi circulating in water buffalo on Marajó Island, state of Pará, Brazil. These results demonstrate a possible role of the water buffalo in the epidemiological chain of this agent in Brazil, and are a warning of the danger this disease could pose to public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the largest buffalo herd in the occident is in the north region of Brazil, few studies have been conducted to assess the prevalence of selected parasitic diseases in buffalo herd. The present study was therefore conducted to investigate the epidemiological of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina, and Babesia bovis in water buffaloes in the north region of Brazil. A total of 4796 buffalo blood samples were randomly collected from five provinces and simultaneously analyzed by the IFAT and ELISA. The serological prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum was 41.3% and 55.5% in ELISA and 35.7% and 48.8% in IFAT, respectively. The overall prevalence of A. marginale, B. bovis, and B. bigemina was 63%, 25%, and 21% by ELISA and 50.0%, 22.5%, and 18.8% by IFAT, respectively. This study shows valuable information regarding the serological survey of selected bovine pathogens in water buffaloes in the north region of Brazil which will likely be very beneficial for the management and control programs of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largest buffalo herds are in the northern region of Brazil, so few studies have been conducted to assess the prevalence of selected parasitic diseases in buffalo herds. The present study was therefore conducted to research the epidemiology of Borrelia burgdorferi, Mycobacterium bovis and Brucella abortus in water buffaloes in the north region of Brazil. A total of 4796 buffalo blood samples were randomly collected from five provinces and simultaneously analyzed by ELISA, tuberculin test, CFT and 2ME. The occurrence of B. burgdorferi in buffalo was 75% by ELISA. The tuberculin testing prevalence of M. bovis was 4.6%. The overall prevalence of B. abortus was 4.8% and 4.6% by CFT and 2ME, respectively. Thus, it is concluded that all agents studied were circulating in buffaloes. Special emphasis should be given to brucellosis and tuberculosis agents which are important to public health. Another important finding was the high titers of antibodies found against borreliosis agents, but a possible agent and vector have not been identified yet in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bovine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused mainly by Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina, which are associated to considerable economic losses in cattle herds worldwide. Approximately 60% of buffalo herds in South America are located in Northern Brazil. Little is known about the impact of babesiosis on buffalo herds in Brazil. The present work aimed to verify the occurrence of B. bovis and B. bigemina in 542 water buffaloes in the state of Pará, Northern Brazil, using molecular and serological techniques. The percentage of seropositive animals for B. bovis and B. bigemina was 41.2% and 19.0%, respectively, by ELISA. B. bovis and B. bigemina DNA were detected in 15 and 16% of sampled buffaloes, respectively. A high correlation (Kappa index of 0.9) between serological and molecular tests suggests that the combination of the utilized techniques in the present study is suitable for babesiosis diagnosis in an endemic unstable area. Significantly difference of positivity for serological and molecular assays was verified to localities and reproductive status of sampled animals, but not between buffalo breeds. The immune status of sampled buffaloes associated to the circulation of babesiosis agents in sampled population suggests that the studied area is at risk to clinical babesiosis outbreaks. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that this region can be classified as endemically unstable. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Vagal indigestion or "Hoflund Syndrome" is a disease characterized by the dysfunction of the tenth pair of cranial nerves that causes changes in stomach motility. In the present study, the clinic-pathological tests were performed on three pasture-raised Zebu cattle suspected of vagal indigestion. The epidemiological data were obtained on three properties; two of them located in the northeastern part of Pará state, and the other located in Açailândia municipality in Maranhão state. The predominant clinical symptoms were apathy, dehydration, dry feces or diarrhea, changes in rumen motility, and bilateral distension (both the dorsal and ventral region were distended on the left side, but only the ventral region was distended on the right side). A positive atropine test confirmed the clinical suspicion of vagal indigestion in the three cases. Necropsies on two of the animals confirmed that an adhesion of the reticulum to the diaphragm was the cause of the vagal nerve damage observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are very important in relation to domestic ruminants, but their occurrence among wild ruminants, mainly in the African buffalo Syncerus caffer, remains little known. Methods: Molecular diagnostic methods were applied to detect Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma centrale, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia ruminantium and Ehrlichia chaffeensis in 97 blood samples of African buffalo captured at the Marromeu Reserve in Mozambique. Molecular detection of agents belonging to the family Anaplasmataceae were based on conventional and qPCR assays based on msp5, groEL, 16S rRNA, msp2, pCS20 and vlpt genes. Phylogenetic reconstruction of new Anaplasma isolates detected in African buffalo was evaluated based on msp5, groEL and 16S rRNA genes. Results: All the animals evaluated were negative for specific PCR assays for A. phagocytophilum, E. ruminantium and E. chaffeensis, but 70 animals were positive for A. marginale, showing 2.69 × 100 up to 2.00 × 105 msp1β copies/μl. This result overcomes the conventional PCR for A. marginale based on msp5 gene that detected only 65 positive samples. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were performed for selected positive samples based on the genes msp5, groEL and 16S rRNA. Trees inferred using different methods separated the 29 msp5 sequences from buffalo in two distinct groups, assigned to A. centrale and A. marginale. The groEL sequences determined for African buffalo samples revealed to be more heterogeneous and inferred trees could not assign them to any species of Anaplasma despite being more related to A. marginale and A. centrale. The highly conserved 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested a close relationship of the new 16 sequences with A. centrale/A. marginale, A. platys and A. phagocytophilum. Conclusions: Our analysis suggests that different species of Anaplasma are simultaneously present in the African buffalo. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that diagnosed Anaplasma spp. in the African buffalo and inferred the taxonomic status of new isolates with different gene sequences. The small fragment of msp5 sequences revealed to be a good target for phylogenetic positioning of new Anaplasma spp. isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]